INTERNSHIPS

Our internships are on offer to those interested in making a greater time commitment and gaining more in-depth work experience

Our internships are on offer for those who are able to commit more time to Reef Doctor. They allow people with a keen interest in conservation, aquaculture, marine management, and social development, but with limited experience, to gain their first steps in this exciting, yet demanding work field.

Our internships are suitable for a wide range of people including:

Those undertaking a gap year.

Those who wish to train and work as a Divemaster within a marine conservation organisation.

Those who wish to devote a significant amount of time to learn about marine science and actively participate in marine research, conservation, management, and/or community development work.

Marine and environmental science graduate students who wish to gain extensive, practical field based experience to further their career.

Those who are on sabbatical leave.

Those who are looking for a new career path.

You can spend anywhere between 2 to 6 months with us. Your days will be eventful; the work will be challenging, rewarding, and fun. What’s more, your efforts will be of huge benefit to the continuation of our work and you will gain immense satisfaction knowing that you have assisted us in helping the local communities protect and manage their valuable marine resources for future generations. Our project site is located next to the fishing village of Ifaty so you will have direct daily contact with the local Vezo people, experiencing the culture and customs of these unique communities. Enjoy a life changing experience, make lifelong friends, and return with incredible stories and memories.

We welcome people from all walks of life. You do not need any prior experience or qualifications in this field to volunteer, all we ask is that you are over the age of 18, reasonably fit and healthy, and a general enthusiasm to commit to becoming an integral member of our team.

We encourage interns to utilise their own experiences, skills, and qualifications to concentrate on particular Reef Doctor activities, from marine research and management to education or socio-economic development work. Each internship can be tailored to individual interests, experiences, and to future career and personal development requirements.

Our Internships

We offer two different internships depending on the type of experience you want to gain:

Research Assistant & Divemaster Internship (6 months)

For those looking to gain in-depth experience in marine research and conservation. Following the Research Assistant programme training (duration ~3 months), interns are then trained to PADI Divemaster level, help the core project staff with the training of other volunteers, lead survey dives, and assist in other Reef Doctor projects

Aquaculture Internship (2, 3 or 6 months)

For those looking to gain fieldwork experience in community-based aquaculture and socio-economic development. You will be supporting our Sustainable Livelihoods Project. While this is a predominantly land based internship that does not require diving (although snorkelling is required for working on our seaweed farm), dive courses (up to PADI Divemaster) are on offer for an additional fee